Tag Archives: Kenji Johjima

Like some divine gift sent down from the heavens on an otherwise grey and cloudy Seattle morning, Kenji Johjima has decided to opt out of the final two years remaining on his ungodly, ill-advised three-year contract and return home to Japan where he will likely finish his playing career. Release the doves!

By opting out of the deal, the Mariners will be spared on dual accounts.

One, they won’t be forced to release Johjima and sacrifice millions of dollars owed to him.

Two, they won’t have to waste a roster spot on Johjima while he festers on the team’s bench. Between Rob Johnson and Adam Moore, the team was committed to two young catchers and one unproductive veteran. With the vet out of the equation, Johnson and Moore can now compete for the starting backstop role.

This is arguably the biggest move of the offseason, no matter who the M’s sign, no matter who they trade for, no matter what young players they develop. By clearing Johjima’s contract off the books, the team retains $16 million that they were to scheduled to pay the 33-year-old over the next two seasons.

But that’s just it about this team. Heroes come from the unlikeliest of places, and tonight it was simply Johjima’s turn to be the savior.

The former starting catcher belted a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Mariners a decisive 6-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox. The longball was only Johjima’s fourth of the season, and came in the midst of a 1-15 hitting slump that dates back to July 29.